What is Graves’ disease?
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism).
Who is more likely to develop Graves’ disease?
Risk factors include:
• Family History of Graves’ Disease
• Gender: The disease is seven to eight times more common in women than men
• Age: people between the age of 30 and 50 are usually affected
• Other autoimmune disease e.g. type1 diabetes, pernicious anemia
• Physical and emotional stress
• Pregnancy
• Smoking
What causes Graves’ disease?
The exact cause is unknown but it probably develops by the combination of genes and outside triggers such as a virus. With this disease, your immune system makes an antibody Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) which attacks the thyroid and causes it to produce more thyroid hormone.
What if Graves’ disease left untreated?
If left untreated it can lead to serious health issues with heart, skin, eyes, menstrual cycle, fertility, bones, and muscles.
Is Graves’ disease during pregnancy a problem?
Graves’ disease during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, preterm birth, fetal thyroid dysfunction, poor fetal growth, maternal heart failure, and preeclampsia.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Graves’ disease?
• Anxiety, restlessness, irritability, nervousness
• Hand tremors and muscle weakness
• Sensitivity to heat, increased sweating or warm moist skin
• Unexplained weight loss despite increased appetite
• More frequent stools and/or diarrhea
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat, higher blood pressure
• Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)
• Graves’ ophthalmopathy : bulging eyes (exophthalmos), gritty sensation in eyes, Puffy or retracted eyelids, Light sensitivity, Double vision
• Graves’ dermopathy: reddish thickening of the skin on the shins.
• Fatigue
How to diagnose Graves’ disease?
Diagnosis of Graves’ disease include:
• Physical examination by your doctor
• Testing TSH, T3, T4 levels – if you have Graves’ disease you will have high levels of T3 T4 and very low level of TSH
• Testing TSI (Thyroid-stimulating Immunoglobulin) Levels
• Radioactive iodine uptake: high uptake is indicative of Graves’ disease
• Other tests include ultrasound, MRI and CT scan
What are the Treatment options for Grave’s disease?
• Radioiodine treatment
• Anti-thyroid medication
• Beta-blockers
• Surgery: thyroidectomy or subtotal thyroidectomy
What are the lifestyle and home remedies for Graves’ disease?
• Eating well and exercising can help you feel better
• Ease up your stress as much as you can
• Do not smoke.
• For Graves’ ophthalmopathy – Apply cool compresses to your eyes, Wear sunglasses, Use lubricating eye drops, sleep with your head elevated.
• For Graves’ dermopathy- use creams or ointments containing hydrocortisone to relieve swelling and redness.
What is the Differential diagnosis of Grave’s disease?
• Anxiety disorder
• Hashimoto’s disease
• Hyperemesis Gravidarum
• Sub acute thyroiditis
What are the commonly indicated Homeopathic remedies for Graves’ disease?
• Iodum
• Spongia
• Nat mur
• Bromium
• Kali Iodatum
• Lycopus Virginicus
